EMPIRES TASK

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 2, Issue 131, 4 March 1940, Page 7

EMPIRES TASK

WARNING BY SOLDIER

GERMANY'S EFFORT IN MARCH March might decide the destiny of tiie British Empire with the probability of a great blow by Germany against the Allies, declared Colonel H. C. Hurst, speaking for the defence committee at a meeting of the Canterbury Chamber of Commerce recently. He said that the threat to Britain was a threat to New Zealand. The blow must not succeed, and would not if all tooic a share in the war effort. "Quite apart from the extravagant boasts of Hitler and Goebbels, our British Ministers have recently emphasised the gravity of the situation confronting us in this.critical year," said Colonel Hurst. "We expect a surprise attacit in great strength and in all directions by a nation that regards Avar as the only method of settling disputes. "Our task is a hard one. In' the last war France. Italy, Russia, Japan, America and other nations were our allies, and the enemies were Germany, Austria and Bulgaria. Today Italy Russia and America are still neutral. Must Meet First Impact. "In Other words, Britain -and France and a few Czechs and Poles i must take the shock of Germany's ' impact. Remembering that the Ger- ! man was hammering at the gates of Paris in 1014 and nearly broke through our line in 1918, we cannot ignore the risks of Iho coming months. A risk to England is a risk to New Zealand. If she falls, wo fall." Germany had the largest army m the world, and only a few British divisions were in Franco, continues Colonel Hurst. Germany had! the most mobile and hardest hitting army that ever existed in the history" of the world. Her people were welded by Nazi doctrine and geared to war effort. They had worked for this year for 25 years. We had not. She had 10,500 tanks and the biggest air fleet in the world. Testing Out Defences. Germany hail, not irittercd her- aeroplanes, hut had' simply tried them out and tested the defences with a l'ew raids. She was conserving her strength for her great blow. "The success of this blow wi l ! fix the duration of the war, and probably 'pick the sides' for us.. A marked success by Germany would attract more fllics to her," he said. "Tt must not succeed." "Its failure, in part, depends upon every individual doing a just share- —a share which we call our duty. If everyone works for vietory we will triumph even at long length 1 know we shall win, for our cause is .iust and our strength is great, but victory is the reward of effort, too. That is the lesson. "And it is not sufficient that vfj should win; we must win cuickly. Only in that Avay will civilisation have a reasonable chance of reconstruction. March may decide our destiny. Make sure of victory by sharing in its achievements."